A charity motoring pageant being held in Bath next weekend (23 and 24 June) will help to give disabled children access to an innovative mobility device.

The Bath Pageant of Motoring, organised by Rotary Club of Bath, has chosen the Bath Institute of Medical Engineering (BIME) as its main beneficiary.

BIME designed the Wizzybug,a fun, powered vehicle for disabled children between the ages of 18 months and five years which allows them to experience early years mobility.

While most able children enjoy supervised early years mobility using ‘wheels’ such as tricycles, sit-and-ride toys and battery powered cars, the Wizzybug provides these experiences for disabled children by enabling such children to choose when and if to explore their environment and interact with others.

Many families cannot currently obtain a Wizzybug for their disabled child because there is no statutory NHS route for funding for very young children. BIME’s Wizzybug Loan Scheme provides the deviceto families who would otherwise be unable to afford one. Each Wizzybug will be loaned out repeatedly during its life, significantly increasing the number of children and families who benefit.

The Bath Pageant of Motoring is aimed at families as well as enthusiasts and will include a cavalcade and history of motoring, cars and motorcycles, from its earliest days up to the present time.

As well as the demonstration of the Wizzybug, one of the major attractions will be a display of over 30 ‘Super Cars’, such as Aston Martin, AC Cobra, Lotus, Ferrari, Porsche, Jaguar and many others. Rides will be available in these in return for a donation to the charities.

With the majority of proceeds being donated to BIME, Nigel Harris, Director of BIME, spoke of his delight in being a beneficiary:

"We are thrilled that the Rotary Club of Bath is organising the Pageant to support our work in helping improve the lives of children with disabilities and their families.

“The Wizzybug provides independence and mobility to young children at such a key stage in their development. The loan scheme is a really effective way of making Wizzy available to families who otherwise would not be able to afford them."

Gordon Richardson, BIME Trustee, added: "It is vital for children's enjoyment of life to be 'normal' and join in activities with their friends under their own steam. The Wizzybug allows them to do this.

"Disability equipment can be prohibitively expensive for families who already face the additional costs of a disabled child. The Wizzybug loan scheme addresses this problem by enabling an expensive piece of equipment to be used by a number of children during its lifetime."

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